Hi.

Here we are.

You and me.  Right now.

You know… writing is magic.  Real, practical magic. 

I can communicate these thoughts to you, and you have received them asynchronously.  Furthermore, the words have a real impact on your nervous system.  I can influence you, and anyone, from afar and from the past.  Anyone can.  Most people do!

You also know… reading is time travel.  Actual time travel. 

You are RIGHT NOW processing, at whatever time and from whatever place you exist, be it through visual, auditory, or tactile sensations, what I am communicating at 1:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on February 22^nd, 2025, from a room in a house 30 minutes outside of Pittsburgh, PA.

Magic.

Time travel.

Continuing with this framing, I just completed a meditation that I recorded, produced, and published on April 23^rd, 2023.  I experienced deep nervous system regulation, a movement toward existential homeostasis, interacting with myself (…and Sufjan Stevens…) from 2 years ago.

Magic.

Time travel.

I want to share with you that guided meditation, taking refuge in the seven homecomings.

What are the seven homecomings?  In his book, “Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger” (2020), Lama Rod Owens illuminates a practice that incorporates the Buddhist idea of the three jewels (i.e. Buddha, or sacred teacher; Dharma, or sacred texts; and Sangha, or sacred community), expanding that to seven homecomings.  Namely?  Sacred guides, sacred texts, sacred community, ancestors and lineages, the earth and universe, silence, and the self.

During a harrowing period of my recent life, I dove earnestly and desperately into this practice, eventually combining it with an album that also resonated with me deeply.  Sufjan Stevens’ offering, “Meditations” (2021).  Note, both Lama Owen’s book and Stevens’ album are dharma, or sacred texts, for me.  Perhaps they will become so for you, as well.  Perhaps this very meditation will become dharma.  It has for me.

The link for the full practice, which includes introduction, explanation, creation of set and setting, and then the practice, is here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7swOBZTWTSbEYlAUEBVQli?si=9663b7f752524a62. (The link will open in a separate tab!)

Please note, Spotify is the only platform on which you can experience the full episode.  Spotify is what I can afford, and it is what allowed me to incorporate both music and words into a full experience.  I completely understand the ethical implications of using Spotify, and appreciate if you can’t or won’t.

A version of the episode is also on Apple Podcasts, but without the incorporation of, “Meditations.”  It’s still a wonderful and powerful practice without the music.

The reason I love the music is that, with enough practice, the guided meditation itself becomes unnecessary as the 10 pieces on the album become distinct triggers (positive) for each homecoming and additional piece of the practice.

I hope you’ll spend some time.  Engage in a little time-travel.  Experience a little practical magic.  Perhaps regulate your nervous system and engage with insight.

Thanks for being here.

-G